Saturday, December 2, 2017

Joy as first kidney transplant patient discharged from MNH

Tanzania’s first kidney transplant patient, Ms Prisca Mwingira, waves yesterday as she poses for a photo with her brother Bartholomew Mwingira, who donated a kidney. PHOTO | SALIM SHAO

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By Herieth Makwetta @TheCitizenTz news@tz.nationmedia.com

Dar es Salaam. The first patient, who underwent a kidney transplant at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), has been discharged.

Ms Prisca Mwingira, who is a resident of Morogoro Region and a teacher at Mikese Secondary School, spent 10 days at the hospital, where she was receiving treatment from a team of medical specialists.

The kidney was donated by her brother Bartholomew Mwingira.

Speaking to reporters after she was discharged from MNH yesterday, Ms Mwingira thanked the government for covering her treatment costs.

She also asked the government to invest more in kidney specialists to enable many Tanzanians to benefit from health services offered at the country’s major health facility.

“I would like to thank my brother for donating me his kidney and medical specialists, who have made this transplant possible. I underwent kidney dialysis for one year before this transplant,” she said.

Last week, the government revealed that its planned to enact an organ transplant law.

The revelation was made by minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Ummy Mwalimu, who also warned people not to sell their organs.

Ms Mwalimu said although Muhimbili National Hospital had started transplanting kidney, there was no law that regulated it.

According to her, the MNH is using only a policy announced in the Government Gazette on June 30, this year.

She was speaking a day after MNH medical specialists conducted the first kidney transplant.

The minister added that the move would help reduce costs incurred by patients at overseas hospitals.